On Second Thought Magazine

There is no denying the civil unrest in our country. And at Humanities North Dakota we are choosing to hold ourselves accountable.

We choose to be a part of the change that is necessary to combat systemic racism, in our state and in our country.

We promise:

to continue to investigate our own privilege so that we can embed racial equity into our work;

to create our programs and events to be inclusive and welcoming to all races, genders, and faiths;

to not align ourselves with a social and economic system that was designed to perpetuate oppression.

We desire to live and work in a world that is just for all. And we choose to do the work necessary to achieve that goal.

We grieve for those who have unnecessarily lost their lives in this ongoing fight against bigotry and hatred and racism in America. We mourn as injustices against Native Americans continue to unravel the fabric of civility in our state. And we are confused by the uncivil criticisms of both the masked and unmasked in this age of COVID-19.

We don’t have the right words to put anyone’s mind at ease or offer any sort of remedy for hate or injustice. But, we do believe in the life-changing power of dialogue.

We embrace the idea that when people engage in the humanities they develop deep convictions and the moral courage to live them out. Therefore, we work hard each day to create space for brave conversations where people can be heard as well as learn to listen.

Our world spent many weeks this spring withdrawing from others in an effort to stay safe. But these recent horrific events have brought many of these same people to their feet and out into the streets to seek wholeness as a human, no matter the risk.

This is not a time to be quiet. But, to speak out. Change comes only when we get to the place where we can look one another in the eye and see ourselves. Not just the similarities, but the beauty of our differences.

Because these conversations should never be silenced, we invite you to come to the table to share your story and hear the stories of others.

We are pushing our In Good Humor summer issue of On Second Thought to the fall in order to give space now to voices speaking to Anti-Racism. This issue will feature fiction and non-fiction stories, poetry, essays, and artwork about anti-racism today and why it matters. Please include a three sentence bio with submissions. Please send submissions as an attachment in Word format to onsecondthought@humanitiesnd.org. The deadline to submit is June 22, 2020, at 9 AM.

We won’t stop inviting people to the table for these necessary brave conversations. Please, will you join us? Sign up here to receive information about upcoming events and programs.

Our Upcoming Events

Humanities North Dakota is hiring a We the People ND State Coordinator

​Humanities North Dakota and the State Bar Association are currently hiring a part-time coordinator for our We The People civics education program. We The People is an innovative course of instruction on the history and principles of the United States constitutional democratic republic.​The program promotes civic competence and responsibility among upper elementary and secondary students. We The People offers interactive strategies, relevant content, and simulated congressional hearings that make teaching and learning exciting for both students and teachers.